Couple's shock as Middleton Tyas home ransacked by burglars (From The Northern Echo)

Couple's shock as Middleton Tyas home ransacked by burglars

11:10am Saturday 4th February 2012 in News: Richmond & The Dales By Ashley Barnard, Reporter (Richmond)

HEARTLESS burglars needlessly ransacked a couple’s home then took a haul of unusual and sentimental pieces of pottery and jewellery.

Carl and Alyn Tinkler, from Middleton Tyas, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, said they were devastated to find their home “completely turned over” while they were at work on Thursday.

Mrs Tinkler, 53, said: “I got home about 8.15pm and saw there were a few things on the floor, but at first I thought maybe the cat had just jumped up and knocked things over.

“But, as I went through the house, I could see all the cupboards and drawers wide open and everything dragged out on the floor. It was just a complete mess.”

Mr Tinkler, 41, said glass patio doors at the back of the house were smashed and prised open, so the entire double-door would need replacing.

Thieves spread pillows and cushions from the Tinklers’ bedroom all over the floor in the lounge, and Mrs Tinkler said the intruders had even gone through her clothes and underwear drawers.

She added: “We had a large collection of Lladro pottery from Spain. The pieces are quite unusual – we had a Christmas collection with six items, including Father and Mother Christmas figures and lots of little elves.

“It is not run of the mill, so hopefully someone would recognise it. I have already looked on eBay to see if someone is trying to sell it.”

Mrs Tinkler said she was devastated by the loss of her extensive jewellery collection.

She said: “I had two boxes full and am trying to list everything that has gone, but it is difficult when you have been collecting things over the years.

“The most upsetting losses are three rings I got from my mum, who died 30 years ago.”

Police believe Mrs Tinkler disturbed the burglars because, other than a laptop, no obvious electrical items were taken, and added that neighbours reported a young man knocking on doors at about 6pm.

Detective Constable Karl Middlemiss, of Northallerton CID, said: “This was clearly a distressing incident for the victims.”

He appealed to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area at the time of the burglary to contact police on 101, option two, and ask for Detective Constable Karl Middlemiss, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555-111, quoting reference number 12120017328.